ISLAMABAD: In a seemingly interesting turn of events, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) Chief Dr Tahirul Qadri asked his supporters to storm the Parliament building and lay siege upon it.

What followed seemed like the fulfillment of every legislator’s worst nightmare. However, the situation disseminated before any serious losses could occur.

This move caused widespread panic among all employees of government institutions operating from the Red Zone.

Prime Minister Secretariat’s Assistant Private Secretary Abdul Latif had to walk on foot towards Radio Pakistan Chowk.

MNAs and other dignitaries manage to leave through the Presidency, as employees were stuck inside

“Although PAT supporters did not crash the gates of the PM Secretariat, the employees panicked because they did not know what will happen to them,” he said, adding that “I hope this issue can be resolved amicably and everything settles down.”

Mr Latif was not the only person perturbed by the situation; almost everyone present in the Red Zone was terrified after finding out that PAT had decided to occupy and surround the Parliament House.

Manazir Hussain Tanoli, who works at a petrol filling station in the Red Zone, said the management of the station had decided to cancel operations for the day.

“The decision was taken to avoid any damage to the machinery. However, it was decided in the evening to open the filling station again, after noticing that the crowd was not damaging any public or private property,” he said.

Adnan Ahmed, who was going out of the Red Zone, told Dawn that people who work in the Red Zone have been suffering for the last one week, as the area was closed.

He, however, said since the marchers had arrived inside the zone, the area had become easily accessible for everyone.

“The employees were using Margalla Road to reach their offices, which was not only causing financial strain, but also wasting time. I am sure that issues will be resolved soon and after that the government will work for the betterment of the people,” he said.

“PAT workers had blocked the gates of the Parliament House, but it was only the employees that suffered due to their actions. The members of the National Assembly and other important personalities managed to leave the premises through the Presidency, but the employees remained stuck, and those who did manage to get out through the Presidency, had to walk several kilometres,” he said.

PAT Media Coordinator Ghulam Ali told Dawn that the party chief had instructed the supporters to block the gates of the Parliament.

“But later on, we found out that there was an exit point on the rear side of the Parliament House, but by that time most of the people had managed to get out,” he said.He added that the party workers will continue their sit-in, until they get further instructions from the PAT chief.

Radio Pakistan Chowk cordoned off

Since the marchers have successfully entered the Red Zone, the flux of people going in and out of the area has been enormous.

The security officials that showed no resistance to the storming protesters on Tuesday night seemed to interfere even lesser on Wednesday morning.

Bhara Kahu Police Station Sub Inspector Mohammad Usman Abbasi, who is deputed at the Red Zone, told Dawn that due to the frequent movement of people, it was decided to block Radio Pakistan Chowk with containers.

“The police have been instructed not to allow anyone to enter the Red Zone from Radio Pakistan, however people can come from the side of the Diplomatic Enclave,” he said.

Workers on flower beds

With its well maintained lawns, ever-blossoming flower beds and trimmed hedges, the Constitution Avenue is one of the most beautiful areas of the federal capital.

Sadly, the gardens of the Red Zone are now under threat due to the presence of thousands of participants of the ongoing sit-ins in the federal capital.

The workers, who reached the avenue on Tuesday night, slept on the green belts. The PAT workers had not only damaged the flowers, but were also seen sitting on saplings.

A few hundred workers of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), who have no place to stay in the city, have been staying at the venue of the sit-in since August 15, especially on the greenbelts near the Nadra headquarters.

Although the nullah flowing near Nadra office carries sewage, some PTI workers were bathing in the same water.

An official of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) said that the civic body works hard to replace the soil every season.

“We have a nursery in Chak Shahzad where saplings are grown and then planted in the greenbelts,” he said.

“A water tanker is specially allocated to give water to the plants. Workers of both PAT and PTI should ensure that the plants are not damaged,” he said.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2014